Even Australia’s fittest man James Newbury knows just how tough it can be to stay motivated during winter.

But the CrossFit champion, who can dead lift 250kg, run 5km in about 18½ minutes and do a 80kg weighted pull-up, says a little bit of effort can go a long way when it comes to staying active.

Newbury finished first at the CrossFit regional championships in Wollongong last month, which he says earned him the title of Australia’s fittest man.

He competed against athletes from Australia and the Asia/Pacific region, and secured one of five spots for the world titles in Madison, US, in August.

Newbury, who co-owns Mode Fitness gyms in Adelaide and Brighton, says the sport can claim its winner as the fittest because it tests for physical strength, endurance and skills across a number of disciplines.

“It is bridging the gap between a strongman who can dead lift 300kg-plus to looking at a marathon runner who can run a marathon in three hours,” he says.

“So not only cardio fitness but having muscular fitness, being very fast off the mark to being agile, co-ordinated, flexible — all these things add up to finding the most well-rounded athlete.

“Our goal is to never surpass the specialist but get very, very close.”

Newbury, who discovered CrossFit in 2011, says while society is becoming more conscious about being fitter and healthier, there is still more work to do.

He agrees it’s difficult to stay on track during the colder months.

“It is cold outside, people don’t want to leave the house. It is easier to rug up and have a cup of tea and watch telly,” he says.

“But you don’t need to go work out for an hour to two hours every day. You can get up and do a 10-minute workout and that is honestly better than doing nothing at all.

“And if you were consistent with that 10 to 15-minute workout a day, which you could do in your living room with no equipment whatsoever, people would feel so much better.”

To help us get moving this winter, Newbury has shared with The Advertiser his top 10 exercises to do at home.

JAMES NEWBURY’S EXERCISE TIPS

Choose five exercises and aim to complete 10 to 15 reps of each on rotation for 10 to 15 minutes.

PUSH-UP

Start on your hands and knees with arms fully extended. Either stay on the knees or go up on the toes. Lower your chest to the floor and push back up to arms extended.